Dogs and cats have feelings, too! Some tips about what to try and do if your pet is sad about an empty house. Has your pet been moping around the house since your kids returned to school?
It’s very common for both dogs and cats to be affected by “empty nest syndrome” and feel lonely once the summer vacation is over. Here are a few ways in aiding them with the stress.
Aiding Pets Cope With Back-to-School Blues
During the summer, there is always extra activity in the house with friends coming and going, and even even Mom and Dad taking time off from work for a staycation. And then – literally overnight- all that changes when school begins again, or kids leave the house and go off to college.
Feeling the void
A minimum of one in six dogs, along with a countless number of cats, will exhibit the signs of separation anxiety or increased anxiety when already susceptible to the problem, according to Professor Nicholas Dodman, director of the small animal behavior clinic at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Grafton, MA.
“Dogs and cats that enjoy human interaction and affection can become psychologically unglued – especially if their best human friend in the household happens to be one of the kids and suddenly that person ‘disappears’ and goes off to college. It definitely leaves a void in the pet’s lifestyle,” explains Dodman.
“The same applies when kids go back to school and suddenly their lives are so filled with activities that they no longer have the same amount of time for fun that includes the family pet.”
Signs of anxiety
Pets are just like children in that they love the structure of a routine. A common sign of anxiety in trying to understand what has happened to a favorite member of the family is pacing up and down, whining, and even constant barking.
Normally a dog will scratch on the front door or one leading to the garage in an attempt to go out and look for the absent person. Or you may come home to find the dog has overturned a trashcan or chewed your best shoes.
Cats are famous for hiding their feelings better than dogs, but if your cat is generally happy sleeping in a favorite spot, she may suddenly start hiding for long spells and have to be coaxed out to eat and play. Some cats could also start to urinate and/or defecate away from litter box.
How to help
Behaviorists advise that the best way to handle the situation is to replace the routine that was in play throughout the summer with a new one to help pets adapt and settle down more quickly.
Exercise always helps. Consider taking your dog for an extended walk in the mornings or engaging in some games of fetch prior to heading off to work. You’ll be able to multi-task with cats by enjoying a cup of joe and playing with a laser toy or wand in the other hand.
Move your cat tree to a position where your cat has a nice street or garden view and can watch all sorts of activity, from birds flying to cars driving by.
And there are lots of wonderful interactive toys for both dogs and cats that will have them engaged and help while away the hours when they are home alone.
Kids should be encouraged to fool around with pets once they get home from school. You can even introduce after-school treat time so this becomes something your dog or cat anticipates every day.
Lead by example and spend more time with your pets once you get home from work, too. Bring out a special toy so that your pet starts to associate your arrival home with fun and games.
College isn’t for animals
While more colleges throughout the country are allowing pets on campus, allowing a college student to take the family pet with them is not always a wise decision from your pet’s standpoint.
The comforts of a home environment is usually quite different from student digs or on-campus housing, which doesn’t cater to pets. Students often live in smaller spaces and share sleeping accommodations.
Also, students, especially freshmen, have a lot happening, and it can take them time to adjust to their new lifestyle. Often they merely don’t have the time to spend with a pet. When college students are not in class, they understandably wish to go off and spend time with friends, leaving the pets alone in a strange new environment.
Plus, taking a pet to college is a big responsibility. College dorm doors are often casually left open and unattended, and pets, especially cats, can escape and get lost because the environment is unfamiliar to them.
Besides, having the family pet at home gives students something to look forward to over long weekends and school breaks. Pets will appreciate their homecoming, too.